Using lighting to stimulate creativity

Creativity is an important thing to nurture. No matter your profession, whether an artist or an industry professional, we all draw from our unique wells of inspiration to create and work. Did you know, however, that studies suggest your creative performance can be influenced by the space you work in, from lighting to decor? 

At Gantri we have always been influenced by the intersection of design and art. Each piece is artfully designed to bring the spirit of creativity straight from our independent designers to inspire you to use lighting to boost creativity and performance, no matter your goals. We’ll discuss the benefits of unique lighting setups, the best way to create them, and suggest worthwhile products to help you find your next inspiration.

Dim Lighting for Inspiration

There are few better ways to achieve perfect focus and find inspiration than to reduce distractions. Whether you’re meditating savasana or simply feeling the world around you, it’s worthwhile to turn down the lights and noise that bombard us daily.

More relaxed, more creative

When we’re talking about dimming things in a space, there’s a much more delicate balance than simply turning the lights off. After all, how will you find inspiration if you can hardly see it? Here’s how to create a dim lighting setup that won’t leave your eyes straining.

A room’s ambient light is the overall lighting that fills it. It can be supplemented with accent lighting to subtly emphasize the details of a space. If you have a room with a major ambient light source, you can create another layer of lighting by adding separate accent lights. This will allow you to still see while avoiding too much light distraction. Then your mind can focus and wander with uninhibited creative energy.

Wall lights are a great choice for accent lighting. They can draw soft shadows across a space with a softly diffused light. The Cerra Wall Light, by Bradley L Bowers is a great option for this effect. Inspired by the verdant beauty of the flora and shades of Louisiana, the soft-lit design won’t conquer a room with distracting brightness. Instead, it creates a comfortable, all-hour space with pleasant light diffusion.

Adjustable lighting to match your work mood

Investing in adjustable or dimmable lighting can do a lot to give you more control over the ambiance of your space. It’s an easy option for changing the feeling of a room just by shifting the light. Gantri features a whole line of adjustable clamp lights to achieve lighting flexibility. Plus, all of Gantri’s lighting products use dimmable bulbs for full flexibility to create the lighting you need. 

The compact, adjustable Aim Clamp Light by Smart Design can be easily attached to any ledge or shelf with just a twist. The compact, directional design is great as a work light for late-night brainstorming sessions or as an accent against a wall. It’s simple to adjust angles and locations, and features Gantri’s iconic plant-polymer construction for a sturdy and lasting product that will keep your space lit for years to come.

Natural Lighting for Clarity

On the opposite side of the spectrum, bright natural-feeling light is an excellent motivator for energy and work. There’s no better place to get it than from the sun or from Gantri’s warm temperature bulbs which foster comfort and creativity!

Benefits of natural lighting

Sunlight and the vitamin D it provides are important for a healthy mind and body. They help prevent atrophy in our bones and immune system, and also provide a tremendous mental health benefit. Nothing is more hazardous to creative, productive energy than the feeling of wasting away in a dark room. Harnessing the warmth and brightness of natural lighting makes us feel whole in our space.

Incorporating natural light into your space

Sunlight can naturally be very bright. In summer months or warmer climates, direct sunlight can also drastically heat a room. That’s why it’s important to build your spaces around these sources of natural lighting and incorporate them into your design decisions. 

To avoid some of these issues and keep things cool, you can utilize curtains made of lightweight, high-quality materials such as sheer or cotton. They’re not as heavy and block less overall light, while still absorbing a decent amount of warmth.

If you’re working in a home office, consider the location of natural light sources and how to angle your furniture around them. Being able to feel the sun on you as you work or relax is a wonderful benefit to your mood and mental health!

Warm Lighting For Stress Relief

You may be familiar with the concept of color temperature. This unique spectrum is frequently discussed with lighting products. Warm-tone lighting begins at around 1,000K and drops off around the midpoint of 5,000K. So why is this important?

Warm light is associated with specific moods and emotions it invokes in us such as comfort, nostalgia, and serenity. These are all things essential for promoting creative thinking and problem-solving. That’s why Gantri lights all use a soft, warm color temperature of 2,700K.

Creating a Custom Lighting Plan

If you’re struggling with getting creativity flowing, it can help to look to an outside source. You might consider searching through Gantri’s vast catalog or using some of our hand-curated lighting recommendation guides to get you started. Then it’s important to experiment with your space to find the right combination of lighting. Choose the right pieces for your life and the style you crave.